Billiard-table construction



Aug. 2o, 1929.` l. SEAL 1,725,215

BILLIARD TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 1928 llness l b jaaa. 0PM j dflorqgys Patented Aug. 20, 1929:.

UNITED STATES IVAN SEAL, 0F OELWEIN, IOWA.

BILLIARD-TABLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application tiled .Tune 20,

The object of my invention is to provide a billiard table construction of simple, durable and comparativel inexpensive construction.

My present app ication is a continuation in part of my application tiled June 27, 1927, Serial Number 201,932, which was allowed November 28, 1927, and embodies certain improvements thereover whereby the construction is considerably simplified.

A further object is to provide a billiard table construction wherein a felt or other fabric cloth used in covering the top of the table and the rail edges thereof, may be quickly, easily and conveniently installed or removed. In this connection, it is well known ythat the tops of billiard tables including the inner and a portion of the upper faces of the side and end rails of the table are covered with a felt cloth. This cloth wears out rapidly when the tables are in use and must be frequently replaced.

Heretofore the replacing of the felt cloth has been an expensive, tedious and somewhat difficult process since the felt has formerly been tacked onto the table top and the railing and therefore, requires considerable time especially in removing the old felt.

In my present invention I have'provided a structure whereby the old cloth may be readily removed and replaced by new cloth with a considerable saving of time and with much greater ease compared to methods heretofore employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a billiard table construction whereby the rails thereof embody a number of novel features to speed up and render easy, the removing and putting on of felt.

More particularly it is my object to provide a supporting rail normally securedv around the periphery of the table top and a second rail removably connected with the supporting rail, each of these rails being provided with means for fastening the edges of cloth to them.

Still a further obj ect is to provide a modifled form of construction in which a third rail member is utilized for concealing one row of the fastening devices on the second rail.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and 1928. Serial N0. 286,896.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a billiard table in which my invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view illustrating a modified form of construction which was disclosed in my originally filed application hereinbefore referred to.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference character A to indicate generally a billiard table. The table is formed with a top member 10 around the periphery of which, supporting rails 'l2 are secured. The supporting rail 12 is secured to the table top by means of lag screws 18 which are usually provided with round heads having openings for a Spanner wrench.

It is of course, understood that the rail member l2 extends along the ends and the sides of the table. The upper surface of the rail 12 is provided with a shallow V-shaped groove 20. A longitudinally arranged groove 22 is provided in the upper surface of the supporting rail 12 and a plurality of spaced fastening devices 24 proj ect from the bottom of the groove 22. The fastening devices 24 are simply small pins or headless nails, driven into the rail 12 and are spaced about an inch apart. The purpose of the pins 24, is to receive and hold the edge of the felt cloth covering 26 which is stretched over the upper surface of the table top 10.

A second rail 28 is removably connected with the supporting rail l2. VThe rail 28 is provided with a downwardl extendin V-shaped rib adapted to fit in the V-shape groove 20 of the rail l2. The rail 28 is held in connection with the supporting rail 12 by means of ca screws 30 extendin the rail 12 an into openings 32 ormed in the rail 28. Recesses 34 are provided at spaced points along the second rail 28 to receive short, flat bars 36 which are screw threaded to receive the cap screws 30. The cap screws 30'are provided at spaced intervals completely around the supporting rail 12 secured to the periphery of the top 10 of the table A.

A resilient bumper strip 38 is secured to one corner of the second rail 28 and thisl strip is covered by a strip of felt 40. The strip of felt 40 has one edge received in a. groove 42 in the rail 28 andthis edge is held within its groove by a strip of wood or simithrough lar material 44 adapted to be wedged into the groove 42. For instance, in applying the felt 40 it may extend as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 and the stripv44 then driven in with a hammer. The strip 44 may easily be removed by a screw driver or other means, while tliefelt 40 assumes the dotted line position above referred to.

The other edge of the felt 40 is held by a row of fastening devices 46 projecting from the. bottom of a groove 48 cut in the lower surface of the rail 28. The fastening devices 46 are also pins or headless nails and are arranged at spaced intervals.

In applying the felt 40 to the rail 28, it is merely stretched to position shown in Figure 2', (while the rail 28 is removedfrom the supporting rail 12') and the upper free edge forced over the pins 46. In assembled position, it Will be noted that the grooves 22 and 48 are vin alignment with each other.

V'Ihe Vpins 24 extend slightly beyond the upper surface of the rail l2 and the pins 46 extend slightly beyond the lower surface ofv the rail 28 so that the row of pins 24 engage the felt 40'and the row of pins 46, engage the felt 26 for additionally insuring that the felt will be retained on the fastening devices or pins.

In removing the old felt it is merely necessary to disconnect the rail 28 from the rail 12 by removing the cap screws 30 and thereafter pulling the felt 26 from the pins 24 and the felt 40 from the pins 46 and removingthe strips 44. The new felt is put on by reversing this operation.

In Figure 3 of the drawings', I have illustrated a modified form of construction in which a third rail 50 is utilized for covering a row of fasteningpins 52 to be substituted for thestripj44.

A groove 54 is provided to receive the outi wardly projecting ends of the pins 52. The

rails `l2and 28V are held `together by bolts 5.6 extending completely through both rails and also through the thirdrail 50. l/Ving nuts 58 are-provided on the lower ends of the bolts56. v The heads 60 on the bolts 56 are counter-sunk inthe rail 50. In Figure l` of the drawings, these counter-sunk openings are inlaid with a different kind of wood than that of which the rail l28 is formed, merely for appearance.

I have also shown in Figure another way of fastening the lower edge Iof the strip of felt 40. This means consists of pins 62 eX- tending sidewise into a groove 64. The lower edge ofthe felt 40 is merely swung into this. groove after the felt is stretched and engages' the pins 62.A A. groove 66 is provided for receiving thefupvvardly Vproject- V ing pi-ns24 of the rail I2.

f I have shown on my drawings, a billiard table for illustrating the structure of Vmy device but it will be understood, of course,

ijeaeis that my construction may be applied to pool tables with appropriate fittings, etc., at the corner of the table. On billiard tables it is merely7 necessary to cut the ends of the rails l2, 28 and 50 at an angle of forty-five degrees, to. make .them .tit properly. A separate strip of felt is used for each end rail and each side rail.

The operation of removing and replacing felt on a billiard table can be performed very quickly and skill in performing it is easily attained. When the assembling of the parts has been completed, the table will have the necessary'rigidity and neat appearance of the properly covered table.

VIt is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of structure and the arrangement of the various parts of my improved billiard table construction without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention and it is therefore, my intention to cover by my claims such modified forms of structure and use of mechanical equivalents as may be reasonably included within ytheir scope.

I claim as my invention:

vl. In a structure of the class described, a table top, a peripheral supporting rail associated therewith, fastening devices on the upper surface of said supporting rail, whereby a fabric covering for said table top may be fastened to said supporting rail, a second rail associated with said supporting rail, fastening devices arranged on said second rail whereby both side edges of a fabric covering for said second rail may be secured thereto and means for removably connecting said second rail to said supporting rail with its fabric covering'thereon.

2. In a structure of the class described, a table top, a peripheral supporting rail associated therewith, a longitudinal groove inv the top thereof, fastening devices on the upper surface of said supporting raily whereby a fabric covering for said table top may be fastened to saidv supporting rail, a second rail associated with said supporting rail and having a rib to iit snugly in said groove,-fastening devices arranged vvon said second rail whereby the side edges of a fabric covering for said'second rail may be secured thereto and means for removably connecting said second rail to said supporting rail'.

3. In a structure of the class described, a table top, a peripheral supporting rail associated therewith, fastening deviceson the upper'sur'face of said supporting rail', whereby a fabric covering for Vsaid table top'may be fastened to said supporting rail, a second rail associated with said supporting rail, fastening devices arranged on said second rail whereby the side edges of a fabric covering for said second rail may be secured thereto, a groove in said second rail `adapted to partially' receive therein, the fastening devices of said supporting rail and means for removably connecting said second rail to said supporting rail.

4. In a structure of the class described, a table top, a peripheral supporting rail associated therewith, fastening devices on the upper surface of said supporting rail, whereby a fabric covering for said table top may be fastened to said supporting rail, a second rail removably associated with said supporting rail, fastening devices arranged on said second rail whereby the side edges of a fabric covering for said second rail may be secured thereto, one of said fastening devices coinprising a groove and a strip adapted to be partially encircled by the fabric and then wedged into said groove.

5. In a structure of the class described, a

table top, a peripheral supporting rail therearound, a groove in said rail, fastening devices in said groove and a second rail associated with said supporting rail and having a groove with fastening devices therein, said grooves substantially registering with each other whereby the fastening devices in one groove partially extend into the other groove.

6. In a structure of the class described, a table top, a peripheral supporting rail therearound, fastening devices on said supporting rail, a second rail associated with said suportinfr rail fastening devices on said second rail and a groove in one of said rails adapted to partially receive the fastening devices of the other rail.

Des Moines, Iowa, May 31, 1928.

IVAN SEAL. 

